Mark Gonzalez reports that
Ozzie Guillen is closing in on a new third base coach:
Another quality third base coach candidate became available this weekend when Oakland fired Rene Lachemann, who has served as a player, coach and manager for 43 seasons.
But sources reaffirmed Monday night that Pittsburgh third base coach Jeff Cox is likely to be named the successor to Razor Shines with the White Sox.
Cox, who played one year and two games with the Oakland Athletics,
dropped down 11 sacrifice bunts in 59 games in 1980. Combine that with his .504 OPS and three extra-base hits in 169 at-bats, and, yeah, that seems like Ozzie's kind of guy.
I
still question the decision to dump Shines, given that he oversaw great progress in the development of Ryan Sweeney and Josh Fields in the minors. But solely in terms of his 2007 job, the jury was out on Shines (my brother's evaluation of Shines' performance: "He sure was there!"). And even if Cox's severe inclination to bunt scares me a little, there are some White Sox who can use lessons.
From what I can find,
Cox is nothing if not spirited:
His enthusiasm is palpable. On the field, he can be seen standing in his box during batting practice leaping as he waves home phantom runners. Off the field, his mannerisms are akin to a cartoon character, his hands clapping, feet tapping and mouth moving at a manic pace in incessant cheerleading.
[...]
"The job? Oh, I love it. Love it!" he said with the trademark clap. "My gosh, I love the action. Getting the signs from the dugout, relaying them, going on contact, what to do if the ball clears the mound, if it sits in front of the plate, thinking about the outfielders. I just ... I just love the action!"
And of his success?
"It's a thankless job. But you've got to love it!"
In that same article by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Dejan Kovacevic (who is a quality reporter,
as I've mentioned before), he notes that in 2006, Cox only waved one runner to his demise at home plate all season:
And this might be the most impressive aspect of Cox's performance: He tends to employ an aggressive approach in waving runners, and he hardly is blessed with a speedy roster that can negate his mistakes.
"It's about how hard he studies and works at it," bench coach Jim Lett said. "He's really prepared, from knowing all the outfielders' arms to understanding all the situations even before they play out."
In 2007, however, Cox was criticized in several different forums as being too conservative in his decision-making,
this one being a good example. For a rebuttal,
Kovacevic addressed that criticism in late August:
KOVACEVIC: I know some of the diehards at PNC have been booing Cox a bit when they see the stop sign at third, and I understand that. You are correct, Shawn, that the Pirates -- well, until this month, anyway -- have not done much in the way of chain-reaction offense. Risks can be good.
There are two problems, though.
1. It is a slow team. A painfully slow team.
2. There is not much discipline on the basepaths, and that is not something that has gone away with all this recent hitting. Watch how many players look over to Cox as they approach second base to see if they should continue to third. Watch how many come into third full tilt -- as all are taught and instructed -- then react to Cox's sign, versus how many pitter-pat into third. The latter makes Cox's decision for him.
Last year, as was documented, Cox was nearly perfect at his position. Only one runner was thrown out at home all year after one of his waves -- an outrageous figure -- and no one accused the Pirates of being passive.
Did he change? Or did the players' speed and approach?
Next time you are at the game -- TV will not work -- forget the ball and watch the runner.
Of course, it's a little too easy to shift the blame off Cox considering Jim Tracy did a piss-poor job managing an incredibly undisciplined team, but at least it's apparent that he has plenty of experience watching his players treat the basepaths like molasses. With Paul Konerko, A.J. Pierzynski, Jim Thome, Jermaine Dye and others returning for another season on the South Side, his tendency to give stop signs may work in his favor.